SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2018
As Amended by House Committee on Elections
Brief*
HB 2018 would prohibit county election officers from
disqualifying active military members and such members’
spouses and other dependents from service as poll workers
on the basis of residency or registered voter status. The bill
would also add U.S. citizenship and Kansas residency as
requirements for service as an election board judge or clerk.
[Note: Continuing law requires all election judges and
election clerks to be residents of the area served by the
voting place in which they are a judge or clerk.]
The bill would define “active military member” for poll
worker purposes as any person with full-time duty status in
the armed forces of the United States, including members of
the national guard and reserve.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Elections at the request of Representative Waggoner on
behalf of a constituent.
House Committee on Elections
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was presented by representatives of Bird Dog Recruitment
and Consulting, Military Officers Association of America, and
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ Secure Families Initiative. The proponents generally stated
the bill would allow military members and their families that
maintain residence in their home state to serve as poll
workers like military members and families that choose to
move their residency to where they are stationed, and the bill
would help address the shortage of poll workers the state is
facing.
Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by two
private citizens.
A representative of the Office of the Secretary of State
(Secretary) presented neutral testimony, stating the Secretary
has no issue with the premise of the bill and requesting an
amendment to strike the reference to the Secretary qualifying
poll workers, as the Secretary does not have that authority.
A private citizen presented opponent testimony,
expressing concerns that allowing certain privileges for
military members and their families historically has been the
precedent to other nationwide voting practices, such as mail-
in ballots.
Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by three
additional private citizens.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to:
●Require election board judges and clerks to be
U.S. citizens;
●Require election board judges and clerks to live in
Kansas;
●Remove a requirement the election board clerk or
judge live within the area served by the voting
place in which they are to be a clerk or judge;
2- 2018 ●Remove a requirement the election board clerk or
judge have the qualifications of an elector in the
election at which they serve; and
●Remove language prohibiting the Secretary of
State from prohibiting the disqualification of poll
workers.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Secretary indicates
the bill would not have an effect on agency operations. The
Kansas Association of Counties also indicates enactment of
the bill would not have a fiscal effect on counties.
Poll worker; military spouses; election board judge; election board clerk
3- 2018